History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 89

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 89
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 89
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 89

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Dr. Norman M. Bruce appears to have been the next physician to settle in Somerset, who remained any considerable length of time. We find mention of his name in the records as early as 1814, and as late as the middle of the cen- tury. He finally removed to the State of Iowa and died there. His son Andrew, also a physi- cian, removed to Springfield or Columbus, Ohio, about the year 1851, and died there some two or three years ago. Dr. Michael Berkey was a son-in-law of Dr. Norman M. Bruce. After practicing here some years he removed to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, soon after the year 1850, and there remained until his death. His father-in- law, the elder Dr. Bruce, accompanied him to Iowa.

Drs. Frank Chorpenning and George B. Fundenburg were contemporary practitioners with Dr. Berkey. The former died in Cali- fornia some twenty years ago. The latter came here from Wheeling, Virginia, about 1850, and remained eight or nine years. He then re- moved to Cumberland, Maryland. At the pres- ent time he is a specialist of note at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Edmund M. Kimmel, a brother of Judge Francis M. and John O. Kimmel, Esq., was born in the town of Berlin, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1826. His education was acquired in private schools. Subsequently he studied medicine with Dr. Michael Berkey, and in March, 1850, graduated from the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He immediately began the practice of his pro- fession at Berlin, where he remained nearly three years. In the fall of 1854, he settled in Somerset, and this town has been his continu- ous place of abode to the present time. His practice has been wide and extensive. For ten years he visited his out-of-town patients on horseback. Early in life he married a Miss Schell, of Schellsburg, Bedford county, Penn-

Digitized by Google

for lovade

JOSEPH COVODE, M.D.

Dr. Covode, one of the oldest practicing physicians in the county of Somerset, was born in Ligonier valley, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1822. Garret Covode, the progenitor of the family, was a native of Amsterdam, Holland. When a child he was kidnapped in the streets of his native city by a sea-captain, who brought him to Philadelphia, and under a then existing law sold him into bondage as a " redemptioner," in which condition he was held for some years after arriving at manhood, and was employed as a domestic servant in the household of Gen. Washington. After the completion of his term of servitude he went to York county, and from thence to Westmoreland, where he resided until his decease, which occurred in 1826, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. During the war of the revolution he served his adopted country, but in what capacity, or for what length of time, is not known. The name of Garrett Covode does not necessarily represent that of the Hollandish family from which he was born, as it was coined or originated by the sea-captain who stole him, and by him conferred upon the boy.

He reared a family of four children. Jacob, the only son, was born in York .county, and grew to manhood in Westmoreland county. He was a pioneer in all that the name implies. He died at the age of eighty-two. He married Anna Updegraff. She was a Quakeress, and it is among the traditions of her family that two of her ances- tors, uncles, together with a person named Wood, prepared and pub- lished a protest against the decision of William Penn, recognizing

the legality of negro slavery. This protest is said to be the first anti- slavery manifesto published in this country. To them were born seven children, four sons and three daughters: Mary, John, Jacob, Susan, George W., Anna and Joseph. John, extensively known as one of the most prominent and able men in the commonwealth, was for many years member of congress. He led an active and useful life, and died in Westmoreland.

Joseph was reared on the farm of his father. He received an aca- demical education, and at the age of twenty-two years began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. George B. Fundenberg, of Pitts- burgh, graduating at the Pennsylvania Medical College at Phila- delphia in 1849. Shortly after he came to Jenner Cross Roads, where for thirty-four years he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. For many years he was the only physician in the northwest portion of the county, his practice extending from near Johnstown, on the north, to near Somerset, a distance of twenty miles. But few practitioners have led a more active and useful life than Dr. Covode, or have attained a greater degree of success in the practice, and none have secured a larger portion of public esteem. He possesses the essential qualities of the successful physician other than knowledge-firmness and compassion blended with kindness and discretion.

In 1853 the Doctor was married to Miss Lydia, daughter of Samuel Griffith, Esq., of Jenner. The Griffith family is one of the oldest and most prominent families in this section of the county. Six children have been born to them : Lillie (deceased), Anna C., Minerva, Robert G., Margaret and Bertie K.

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by Google

THEODORE F. LIVENGOOD, M.D.

Dr. Theodore F. Livengood, the descendant of one of the earliest pioneer families of Elk Lick, as will appear in the biographies of that township, was born in 1849, and reared in Salisbury, where he now resides. Naturally studious, he applied himself assid- uously while attending the common schools, and then attended the state normal school at Millerville, in order to prepare himself for teaching, which was to be used as a stepping-stone to something higher. Having finished the normal course, he immediately commenced teaching, which he followed for several years with marked success, for energy and thorough- ness are among the marked traits of his character. In addition to district he also taught normal and graded schools, his services as an instructor being eagerly sought after. The proceeds of his intellectual labors were saved with commendable economy and prudence, and he was enabled by this means to put into execution a long-cherished plan of obtaining a medical education. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating from the medical depart- ment in 1875. Doubtless he studied harder and with better results from the fact that he earned, by close application, the means necessary to pay his way through college. Immediately after graduating, he

returned to his native place and entered into copart- nership with Dr. C. G. Stutzman, and has been per- manently and prosperously engaged in practice here ever since. Their practice has been largely surren- dered into his hands by his partner, and it is doubtful if another physician in the county has a more extended or lucrative practice-no physician being located near them. Extensive and onerous as his professional duties are, the doctor interests himself in anything of a public nature that will tend to promote the welfare of the general public-notably the cause of education-he having quite recently been the prime factor in establishing a kindergarten school now in successful operation. Possessed of keen perception, quick apprehension and sterling worth, the doctor has a useful and honorable career before him. He is a member of the Ancient York Masons, and at the present time holds the most hon- orable position that can be conferred upon him in the blue lodge, that of worshipful master of the Meyersdale lodge. In 1875 he was married to Miss Alice Stutzman, daughter of the late venerable Hon. Jost J. Stutzman. They have one child, Horace R. Mr. and Mrs. Livengood are active members of the Reformed church.

Digitized by

y Google

Digitized by

Google

481

PHYSICIANS OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

sylvania. Seven of their children survive. One son, Dr. Henry S. Kimmel, graduated from Jef- ferson Medical College in March, 1879, and has since been practicing medicine in conjunction with. his father.

Dr. Henry Brubaker, the youngest child of Maj. John Brubaker, of Berlin, was born in Berlin, March 31, 1827. He was educated by private tutors, and at Allegheny College, Mead- ville, Pennsylvania. In 1848 he began the study of medicine under Dr. J. H .. Reidt, of Berlin. Subsequently he attended the Jeffer- son Medical College, and on March 8, 1851, re- ceived his degree of M.D. from that institution. He first began to practice in New Lexington, where he remained about eighteen months. Then he located in Berlin for a brief period, or until 1856, when he settled in the town which has since been his home - Somerset, Pennsylvania. Here he has enjoyed an exten- sive-and we may add, a lucrative-practice for nearly thirty years. Though various other medical practitioners have located in Somerset at different times, Dr. Kimmel and himself have chiefly been relied upon during the long period mentioned. The degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by Allegheny College in 1879.

Dr. Brubaker married Miss Emeline Philson, of Berlin. They have two sons and four daughters. Dr. Albert Philson Brubaker, their eldest child, was born in New Lexington, Som- erset county, Pennsylvania, in 1852. Having obtained an excellent literary education, he began the study of medicine, under his father's tuition, in 1870. Afterward he attended leo- tures at Jefferson Medical College, and March 11, 1874, graduated with great honor from that well-known seat of medical learning. In May, 1874, he was appointed assistant physician to the medical clinic of the Jefferson College Hospital, and retained that position for two years. In October, 1874, he was elected one of the visiting physicians of the Charity Hospital, in which capacity he served for five years. In December, 1874, he became a member of the Pathological Society by election. In February, 1875, he was elected attending physician to the Northern Dispensary, which position he filled for two years. In May, 1879, was appointed lecturer on the anatomy of the head in the Philadelphia Dental College. After lecturing two years he resigned to accept the position

of demonstrator of physiology in the Jefferson Medical College, which chair he at present holds. He has also been examiner in physi- ology for seven years in the Jefferson Robley Dunglison and Medical Quiz Associations. In 1882 be published .a compend of human physi- ology, which was favorably noticed by the medical press of America and England, and a second edition was called for within one year of publication. In 1883 Franklin and Marshall College conferred the degree of A.M. upon him.

Dr. William Rauch was born in Jennertown, Pennsylvania, in 1859. He graduated from the Cincinnati (Ohio) Medical College in 1882. After practicing in Jennertown six months, he located in the borough of Somerset, where he still resides.

BERLIN.

Dr. John Kimmel came from York county prior to 1791, and settled near Berlin, where he practiced medicine for nearly fifty years. He was one of the earliest physicians in the county, and his practice extended through a wide extent of territory. Dr. Kimmel was an associate judge for many years. He died about 1889. His children were Gabriel, William, Jacob, George, Joseph, Michael, Edward, Elizabeth (Kuhns), Mary A. (Case) and Hester (Glessner). Mich- ael, Edward and Hester are living. Jacob was one of the prominent business men of Berlin, and also served many years as justice of the peace. He was the father of Hon. Francis Kimmel, ex-president judge of this district, and John O. Kimmel, of Somerset.

Dr. John P. Cover was born in Brother's Val. ley, where he still lives, in 1800. His father came from Canada, and was among the earliest settlers of Somerset county. Dr. Cover has practiced medicine for about fifty years. He married Miss Putman and is the father of Silas J. (deceased), David J., Peter J., Phebe, Agnes, Anna and Amelia. Silas J. was a merchant for twenty-three years. He died in 1877.

Dr. W. A. Garman was born in Stoystown, and received his early educational training in a log schoolhouse. Graduating from this in due course, in 1849 he entered the University of Pennsylvania and took the medical course. In 1854 he entered upon practice at Southampton Mills, where he remained three years. He then removed to Berlin, where he has practiced ever since with excellent success. Dr. Garman has held various local offices.

Digitized by Google

432

HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

Dr. J. S. Garman, son of Dr. W. A. Garman, was born at Southampton Mills, in this county, and educated in the schools of Berlin. In 1872 he began the study of medicine under his father's tuition, and in 1878 graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Balti- more. Since that time he has been engaged in practice with his father.

Dr. Henry Garey was born in Berlin in 1828, and educated in the Cumberland, Maryland, high school. In 1859-60 he attended the Jeffer- son Medical College. He then entered the southern army and served as assistant surgeon in the 4th regt. Miss. Cav. After the war he practiced two years at Coalmont, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, three years in Memphis, Tennessee, and five years in Greenleaf, Missis- sippi. In 1872 he came to Berlin, where he has since practiced.

Dr. J. K. Miller was born in Stony Creek township. In 1857 he entered Heidelberg Col- lege, Ohio, from which he subsequently received the degree of M.S. Later he studied medicine under Dr. Bonbaker, of Somerset, and in 1870 graduated from the Jefferson Medical College. He has since been engaged in the practice of medicine in Berlin. Dr. Miller served in the late war in the emergency service, under Capt. Schrock.

Dr. W. R. Krissinger is a son of Charles Krissinger, of Berlin, and was born and educated in this town. In 1876 he entered the Baltimore College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which he graduated in 1878. He has since been en- gaged in practice in Berlin. Dr. Krissinger started a drug store in 1880.

CONFLUENCE.

The first physician who settled in Confluence was Dr. W. S. Mountain, who came in 1873, and is still in successful practice here.

Dr. B. A. Fichtner was born in Somerset township, Somerset county, and educated at the Richmond, Virginia, Medical College. From 1857 to 1860 he practiced in Cranesburg, and afterward in Fayette county. From 1863 to 1876 he practiced in Smythfield. He then lo- cated in Confluence, his present residence. Dr. Fichtner served in Co. G, 88th regt. Penn. Vols., from March, 1865, until the close of the war. The Fichtners were early settlers of this county. Martin, the grandfather of Dr. Ficht- ner, was a blacksmith, and came from Lancas-

ter county. He died in Northampton township in 1845.

GEBHART'S.

The first physician to settle in Gebhartsburg was Dr. Wesley Cunningham. Dr. Cunning- ham was born in Turkey-Foot township, where his ancestors were early settlers. In early life he followed teaching for ten years, and took a course of study at the Millersville State Nor- mal School. He read medicine in Somerset with Dr. Henry Brubaker, and in 1869 entered the Jefferson Medical College. In 1871 he began practicing at Levansville. In 1875 he removed to Gebhartsburg, where he has since practiced successfully.

HOOVERSVILLE.

Dr. J. W. Hamer, oldest son of William Ha- mer, of Shade township, is a native of this county, and followed school-teaching several years. He taught thirteen terms, including four terms of normal school in Hooversville. He graduated from the Columbus, Ohio, Medi- cal College in 1882, and has since been practicing medicine in Hooversville.

MEYERSDALE.

Dr. U. M. Beachly was born at Meyersdale in 1828. He attended the common schools, and in 1851 entered the Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating therefrom in 1852. He at once entered upon practice at Meyersdale, where he still resides, the oldest physician in the place.

Dr. H. Clay Mckinley is a native of Alle- gany county, Maryland. In 1858 he began clerking in the office of Dr. Stewart, of Frost- burg, Maryland, where he remained until July, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. A, 10th P. R. C. Discharged on account of illness in November, 1862. In 1864 he entered the Philadelphia College of Medicine and Surgery, from which he graduated in 1868. Since 1865 he has practiced medicine in Meyersdale. In connection with his practice he also kept a drugstore until the spring of 1883, when he sold out.

W. H. MEYERS, M.D.

It is doubtful if the name of any other family, who have, with few exceptions, eschewed poli- tics, has been more generally known in Somer- set county than that of the Meyers. The first member of the Meyers* family who purchased

. Formerly spelled Meyer.

Digitized by Google

Dr & Meyers

Digitized by Google

Google

Digitized by

433

PHYSICIANS OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

real estate in this county was Jacob Meyer, Sr., who resided in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He bought a large tract of land, on which Meyersdale, the largest town in the county, is now located. He never became a resident of the county, but gave the land to his son and. daughter, Jacob, Jr., and Catharine, wife of Jacob Olinger, who occupied the land in the year 1805. Jacob, Jr., married Barbara Yorty, of Lebanon county, and they became the parents of three children, who reached mature years, namely, Peter, William and Eliza. Peter, who is noticed elsewhere, married Lydia Miller, and they became the parents of seven children -five sons and two daughters.

Dr. W. H. Meyers, the fourth son and subject of this sketch, was born December 1, 1839. The Doctor received an elementary education in the common schools and then attended the State Normal School at Millersville. Possess- ing a predilection for medical science, he con- cluded to make the practice of medicine his life's vocation, and when eighteen years of age commenced the study of medicine with Dr. U. M. Beachly, his preceptor. After a preparatory course of two years he matriculated in the medical department of the Philadelphia Uni- versity, from which institution he graduated in 1861. Prior to graduation, while home on a vacation, the community was sorely afflicted with that fatal disease, diphtheria, which pre- vailed as an epidemic. Of the seventy patients who came under his care, all were successfully treated. Immediately after graduation, he attended a full course of lectures in Jefferson College, of Philadelphia, when he returned home and entered into copartnership with his former preceptor, which copartnership continued for five years, since which time the Doctor has continued the practice of his profession alone. A close student and an enthusiast in his pro- fession, it did not require one endowed with pre- science to foretell the eminent success he has attained as a medical practitioner. To him is the Latin phrase semper fidelis extremely applic- able, and, as a natural result, he has built up a practice second to no physician in the county. The sick-calls of the poor are never refused, humanity and charity being with the Doctor paramount to bodily ease or financial advance- ment. He has been resident surgeon for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company since its completion, and is physician for the Baltimore

& Ohio Railroad Employes' Relief Associa- tion.

Politically the Doctor is a republican, but he takes no active part in politics. He has occupied numerous positions of honor aud trust in the community in which he resides, and has always taken a deep interest and prominent part in local affairs.

The Doctor has one of the best-selected medical libraries in the county. Although one of the busiest men in the community, he yet has a pleasant smile and hearty greeting for everyone. Eminently generous, hospitable and social, he has many friends. On January 14, 1862, he was married to Maggie A., daughter of Charles P. Large, of Buckingham, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. They have six children living, namely, Charles P., Robert L. D., William H., Jr., Lydia F., Gertrude W. and J. Simpson. Dr. and Mrs. Meyers are members of the Episcopal church.

Dr. S. S. Good was born in Somerset town- ship, near Frieden's. He was educated in the schools of this county, attending in summer and teaching during the winter months. In 1867 he began reading medicine under Dr. Kim- mel, of Somerset ; attended Jefferson Medical College; then formed a partnership with Dr. Kimmel, which continued for three years ; prac ticed in Somerset until 1878, then removed to Meyersdale, where his labors have met with excellent success.

NEW CENTREVILLE.

The first physician who settled in this town was Dr. David L. Meyers. His successor was Dr. D. P. Welfley. Next came Dr. Gardner.

Dr. W. H. H. Gardner was born in Milford township and educated in the common schools, attending tuition schools some, and one year at the Millersville Normal School. He served in Co. K, 5th Heavy Art., from September, 1864, to June, 1865. After the war he taught school in Maryland four years. In 1873 he graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York city, and settled at New Centreville, where he is still practicing, being the only phy- sician in the place. In 1876 Dr. Gardner met with a severe loss in the destruction, by fire, of his dwelling, office, library, and other property.

ROCKWOOD.

Dr. Chauncey Forward, son of the late Hon. Chauncey Forward, of Somerset, was born in

Digitized by Google

434

HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

the town of Somerset and educated at Salisbury, in this county. He attended the Eclectic Medi- cal Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating there- from in 1875. He practiced in Trumbull county, Ohio, two years, and removed thence to Rock" wood, his present location, in 1877. A romantic incident in the life of Dr. Forward's wife is worthy of mention: In 1860 Mr. and Mrs. Forward moved to Martinsburg, West Virginia. In 1862, while on her way from Harrisburg to her home in Martinsburg, Mrs. Forward was captured by a party of rebels, a portion of Gen. White's com- mand, and sent with an escort to Staunton, Vir- ginia. Thence she was taken to Castle Thun- der, Richmond, where she remained until she was released through the personal exertions of Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln remarked to Col. Harry Coggsall, a member of Gov. Cur- tin's staff, that unless Mrs. Forward was imme- diately released, he would take six of the first ladies of Baltimore and keep them as hostages until her release was effected. She was at once set free and permitted to return to her home. The reason of her detention was that she was suspected of being a Union spy.

SALISBURY.

The first physician who practiced in Salisbury was Dr. Fetter, who settled here about 1835.

STOYSTOWN.

Dr. Robert H. Patterson was born in Phila- delphia in 1822, and removed to Somerset county with his parents in 1826. He was educated in his profession at the University of Pennsylva- nia, Philadelphia, and has been in active prac- tice in Stoystown since 1844.

Dr. J. M. Louther was born in Westmoreland county, in 1839. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 135th regt. Penn. Vols., and served nine months. He studied medicine and grad- uated at Philadelphia in May, 1865. He then located in Stoystown, where he has since been engaged in successful practice. In the spring of 1884 the doctor removed to Somerset, where he is now engaged in the practice of his profession.

URBINA.

The first physician in Ursina was Dr. H. L. Bevins, who came to the place in 1869, and practiced successfully until his removal in 1881.

Dr. William S. Harah was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and attended college at Madison, Fayette county. He then studied medicine for three years under Dr. Smith Ful-

ler, of Uniontown, and attended medical leo- tures at the Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia. He began practice at Centreville, Somerset county, where he remained seventeen years, having an extensive field of labor. In 1869 he removed to Ursina, where he has since practiced. His skill and ability have won for him an enviable reputation.

Dr. W. S. Kuhlman was born in Upper Tur- key-Foot township, and educated at Mount Union College, Ohio. In 1880 he graduated from the Baltimore College of Physicians and Surgeons, being the seventeenth in rank in a class of one hundred and ten. Immediately after, he came to Ursina, where he has since been in successful practice. Dr. Kuhlman's grandfather Henry was a German, who settled in Summit township, and afterward moved to Turkey-Foot. John F., the father of the doctor, is a Lutheran minister, and at present resides in Jefferson township. He served as a missionary in Nebraska about eighteen years.

WELLERSBURG.

Dr. Samuel C. Fechtig was born in Hagers- town, Maryland, in 1822. His father, John H., was born in the same town in 1800 ; moved to Wellersburg in 1850 ; followed the tinsmith's trade ; died in 1869. Dr. Fechtig is the oldest of a family of six children, four of whom are living. He was educated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and received his diploma in 1846. In 1847 he settled at Wellersburg, where he still resides. Dr. Fechtig was the first physician in the place and has never been molested by other practi- tioners. His practice is extensive and successful.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 89

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 967

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967